Billy Napier Depicts Mentorship Role of New Gators Coach Ron Roberts

The "Godfather" of the current defensive structure in Gainesville officially made his way to campus this offseason.

Following the departure of linebackers coach Jay Bateman to Texas A&M to serve as Mike Elko's defensive coordinator in his inaugural campaign in charge in College Station, Florida hit the market, surveying its options for a viable replacement.

Notable names like DJ Durkin, Jamar Chaney, Mark Ivey, Chris Partridge and George Helow arose as possible candidates to fill the void. But, none of those veteran assistants were chosen. 

Instead, Napier — as he has done frequently during his time at UF — elected to take the route of familiarity. The Gators reeled in former Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, who served with Napier and Co. at Louisiana-Lafayette from 2018-19, to command Florida's inside linebackers unit with additional executive head coach and co-defensive coordinator titles.

Napier spoke highly of Roberts' 30-plus-year résumé on Wednesday, offering insight into the reunification and how it provides a luxury to Florida's defensive staff, including defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong.

"It's phenomenal," Napier said about the addition. "You think about Ron Roberts and what he brings to the table: veteran coach, been a head coach, been a coordinator and a play-caller.

"We went and we were able to get one of the better defensive coaches in the country back on our staff."

Although he's never stepped foot in Gainesville to coach previously, Roberts' fingerprints are all over the current operation at the University of Florida.

He's billed as the originator of the current defensive scheme the unit operates, passed down from Roberts to both Patrick Toney — the Gators' coordinator in 2022 — and Armstrong (2023) when the two worked under Roberts at UL.

"I think it's a positive because the system that we run, Ron started that system at Louisiana," Napier explained. 

"The first two years we were there, kind of got it up and running. It's evolved, and the guys that have been running it worked for him in the past. So I think whether that was Patrick Toney, who took over who's now at the National Football League, or Austin. ... They call him the OG, the Godfather, whatever you want to call him. We get him back in the building and he's going to make us better and he'll make the players better." 

Well-regarded for his three-year stint at Baylor, where he helped lead the Bears to a Big 12 Conference title and Sugar Bowl victory in 2021, Roberts' unit topped the conference in interceptions, turnovers forced, turnover margin and defensive touchdowns. 

He maintained some of the success when he moved from the Big 12 to the SEC in 2023, leading Auburn to top-50 marks nationally in total defense, scoring defense, sacks and tackles-for-loss amid an up-and-down year one campaign for Hugh Freeze.

As a result, Roberts' interest in moving to Florida this offseason appeared beneficial in Napier's eyes as he plugged the holes in on-field assistant roles for the second offseason in a row.

The well-versed assistant's return to working hand-in-hand with his mentee, Armstrong, provides another reliable voice of input and guidance as the staff attempts to reconcile the defensive lapses plaguing the unit in recent years.

Roberts' title as executive defensive head coach, or "head coach of the defense," signifies the magnitude of his role in aiding Armstrong in game-planning, installation and other aspects of the weekly process to ensure a smooth operation on gameday.

Armstrong will remain at the top of the pecking order on the defensive side of the ball, but the added experience and respect factor Roberts provides could take some of the burden off the 30-year-old to call plays effectively. 

"Austin and him, there's a mentor-type relationship there," Napier acknowledged. "And a ton of respect, mutual respect on both sides, so I think we get the wisdom.

"Basically, a guy who oversees that side of the ball to some degree. Austin, obviously, is the coordinator, calls the plays and runs the unit meetings, but we're getting a guy who can coach the coaches, who can improve the installation, the gameplans, really get the best on that side of the ball essentially. He's the head coach of the defense to some degree, and I think the coordinator-relationship there is one that's, you know, those guys are, they're loving life right now, so they're both ball guys." 

Florida — ranking No. 69 among FBS programs in total defense (382.2 yards per game allowed), No. 75 (27.58 points per game allowed) in scoring defense and No. 102 in red zone defense a year ago — is leaning heavily on Roberts to help smooth the road ahead for one of the youngest play-callers at the Power Five level heading into a prove-it year for the staff in 2024. 

Napier's confidence suggests the belief that Roberts could be the missing piece to the Gators realizing a long-awaited defensive resurgence next season.

"His guys have always been productive, the guys that he coaches and the units that he coaches. So, there's a track record of really good defense and we're fortunate to have him."